tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89535862331052832842024-03-14T04:47:00.134+05:30Bruised ViewsGrowing with my penUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-50876456383654461572014-06-11T14:47:00.000+05:302014-06-11T14:49:28.127+05:30 Priceless heritage yearns to strike gold<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 100%;">“</span><i style="line-height: 100%;">Tombs
of emperors stand beside traffic junctions, forgotten fortresses
command suburbs, the titles of lost dynasties are woven in the
vernacular, if only as street names.”</i></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
These
words of the renowned historian Jan Morris describe the grandeur of
Delhi. Delhi, a city which has at some point of time belonged to
everyone, emperors, politicians, diplomats, journalists, poets,
artists, writers and to hundreds of generations of common people. It
is one of those cities which has seen dynasties making and breaking
and has still safeguarded the reminiscences of time.
</div>
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So
while Archeological Survey of India plans to nominate Delhi for the
Heritage city tag, one must try to gauge the benefits that the
country could rake in through the three World Heritage Sites already
adorning the city.
</div>
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The
three World Heritage Sites which are located in Delhi – Qutub Minar
complex, Humayun's Tomb and the Red Fort complex are not only the
witnesses of the immortal heritage of India but also speak about the
grandiose and affluence of our past.</div>
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Out
of a total of 981 properties being chosen by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation as the World
Heritage Sites, 30 are located in India. The UNESCO World Heritage
Sites are natural or man-made places which are of universal cultural
and physical value. The first set of World Heritage Sites were chosen
in 1978, three years after the 'Convention concerning the Protection
of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage' came into force.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In
India, the monuments to make it to the coveted list for the first
time, in 1983, included the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Ajanta Caves and
Ellora Caves. Since then 30 places have been given the tag in the
country including three in Delhi, the Qutub Minar Complex and
Humayun's Tomb in 1993 and the Red Fort Complex in 2007.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A
World Heritage Site enjoys an edge over the others.“The budget
allocated to World Heritage Sites is comparatively higher than other
monuments. They also get extra and better trained staff. All three
World Heritage Sites in Delhi have security guard garrisons, whereas
other monuments are striving for even a single guard. Besides, such
sites are continuously monitored by UNESCO and hence it becomes
compulsory for government to take special care of these structures,”
Vikramjit Singh Rooprai who runs the Youth for Heritage Foundation
said.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
These
sites, thus, are considered to be of utmost cultural and traditional
significance for the world. The tag helps in the conservation and
promotion of these sites. Thankfully, Delhi has been able to derive</div>
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some
benefits of being a home to three World Heritage Sites but if one
looks at a comparative picture there are miles to go to actually
strike gold with the priceless heritage that the city has.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This
is especially true for the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim architecture,
Qutub Minar. This 13<sup>th</sup> century red and buff sandstone
pillar tops the chart of the richest monuments in Delhi and comes
second to only Taj Mahal when seen at a national level. With the
largest number of foreign and domestic visitors, Qutub Minar is the
most visited monument in Delhi.
</div>
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According
to a report by Ministry of Tourism, in 2009-10 the monument attracted
2.21 million foreign visitors and earned a revenue of Rs 10.4 crore.
In the same year the top grosser Taj Mahal earned a revenue of Rs
14.81 crore.
</div>
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In
Delhi, Humayun's Tomb is the next favourite of tourists. The footfall
of foreign tourists in the financial year 2009-10 was 1.8 million and
for the Red Fort it was 1.4 million.
</div>
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The
revenue earned through entrance fee from the World Heritage Sites,
centrally-protected ticketed monuments, of the top 16 sites in India
fell by more than Rs 16 crore in 2009-10 when compared to 2008-09.</div>
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Many
attribute this loss to the 2009 Mumbai terror attacks and global
recession. A feeling of insecurity is the biggest challenge to
optimising the revenues through tourism. Like 2009, the flash floods
of Uttarakhand in 2013 are supposed to have heavily taxed the foreign
tourist arrivals in the country.
</div>
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“Foreign
tourist footfall is negligible after the 2013 Uttarakhand floods.
Otherwise even in off season Qutub Minar used to be a home to
tourists from across the world. I don't have the figures but I am
sure that it must be a huge loss,” said Shripal, a ticket seller at
Qutub Minar.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Awarded
as the 'best maintained tourist friendly monument' in the year
2008-09, Humayun's tomb attracts mostly foreigners and a discerning
clientele of tourists. A report submitted by the Ministry of Tourism
in the year 2012 also said that the tomb is less popular with the
domestic tourists in comparison to foreign visitors. In 2011, Begum
Biga's ode to her husband Humayun, could rack in Rs 6.2 crore.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIYOnnJUUboj2ZtR6UembsE20m7AlJl3KyMlHldb1KqtfNh1dmpgL3CJ6PUMQd1cbeShJeN8RztGCOJIvYCXGse22CF8oR-GoF6dl4myTfM8i-GsIf3Xu1Alrfzz_BWnPey98wGNePkgZ/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIYOnnJUUboj2ZtR6UembsE20m7AlJl3KyMlHldb1KqtfNh1dmpgL3CJ6PUMQd1cbeShJeN8RztGCOJIvYCXGse22CF8oR-GoF6dl4myTfM8i-GsIf3Xu1Alrfzz_BWnPey98wGNePkgZ/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
“This
tomb is said to be the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. It is
beautiful. The pure Mughal architecture and the lush green gardens
make it stand out. In a way, the serenity of the place makes it more
beautiful than even the Taj. I wish the weather was a little better.
I would have liked to read something in the garden. I can imagine
some royalties doing that,” said Susan, a tourist from South
Africa.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
Red Fort Complex comprises of the Red Fort, built by Shah Jahan and
Fort Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri. According to the
Archaeological Survey of India, the red sandstone monument complex
managed to earn a revenue of Rs 5.9 crore in the year 2011 from the
entry fee.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
According
to ASI, in 2011, Qutub Minar and Taj Mahal earned Rs 10.1 crore and
Rs 19.9 crore, respectively. These figures show that despite better
connectivity and availability of all amenities which can support
tourists, Delhi has not been able to brand its World Heritage Sites.
Taking a closer look can show that in 2011, all the three sites taken
together have been able to earn only a little more than what Taj
Mahal could earn alone.</div>
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According
to Discovery News Channel, the Great Wall of China attracts an
average of 10 million people yearly which is almost double the number
of people visiting Delhi's all three World Heritage Sites.</div>
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A
study conducted by Stanford University on the economic impact of
global heritage sites in the emerging economies said that Red Fort
complex alone is capable of driving Rs 20 crore in the economy by
attracting at least 2 million people in a year. On the other hand,
the Great Wall of China and Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in
China can earn Rs 288 crore and Rs 192 crore which is five to seven
times more than Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Champaner taken together.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
These
figures reflect the under-utilisation of the tourism sector which is
otherwise a high potential area. Undoubtedly, the sector has shown
growth but from a global perspective, the management has failed to
truly encash one of the most commercially viable resources. Proper
branding with effective measures that do not create pressure on the
monuments can help in generating revenue. The travel and tourism
sector directly contributed Rs 1,92,000 crore to India’s Gross
Domestic Product in 2012. This
</div>
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is
forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 12 per cent, said a report by
Confederation of India Industry (CII).</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Restoration
projects such as for the Humayun's Tomb and other cleanliness and
renovation drives have proven to be beneficial. Although one can
still complain about the lack of basic facilities like parking, first
aid, government approved guides and easy access to the monument and
ticket counters yet the conservation and maintenance projects have
made it a point to maintain the authenticity of the monument.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“We
have been constantly working on projects to conserve Qutub Minar.
Being the identity of Delhi, we can't let it tarnish. Right now the
projects are closed for summers but we make sure that the
conservation efforts are undertaken in a way that can the monument
maintain its originality. Hence, we use only those materials for
renovation which were used to built the minaret like sandstone,”
Suman Dogra, conservation head of Qutub Minar said.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Talking
about the chances of losing the World Heritage tag, he ensured that
there was no chance of any of the monuments in Delhi to lose the tag
because proper conservation methodologies were being undertaken which
were in tandem with the UNESCO guidelines.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In
the past, India was about to lose the tag for Manas Wildlife
Sanctuary due to excessive poaching. However, after 19 years of
conservation efforts the sanctuary could again feature on the list in
2011. “Losing the tag is a matter of shame for any country. Hence,
respective agencies are taking special care to protect them,” said
Rooprai.</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Delhi
has a lot of advantages over other cities in the country and can
propel tourism in other nearby states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh,
Uttarakhand as well. A heritage city tag for Delhi will not only
boost tourism but will also instill a sense or pride. But a proper
strategy for effective marketing should be put in place. These
Heritage Sites have immense potential to earn huge revenue for the
country. Ironically, these untapped coffers of exorbitant wealth are
being left largely high and dry.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-60072978810620597232014-03-14T22:59:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:39.113+05:30Markets at life high but volatileAfter crunching and falling to all time lows for about a year, the Indian stock market has seen nothing less than a miracle in the last fortnight. Now, whether this is a miracle for the tumbling Indian economy or for the ruling Congress led UPA government is still a question.<br/><br/>Despite the turmoil caused by the geopolitical tensions over Ukraine, the economic barometer of Indian economy, Sensex, has spurted to all time highs breaching the 22000 point mark. The spurt is being attributed to a slew of positive domestic factors which have ultimately led to the robust inflow of FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investors).<br/><br/>The positive sentiment on the Dalal Street is being attributed to the reduction in inflationary pressure, narrowing CAD (Current Account Deficit), and favourable results of the opinion polls.<br/><br/>While the<i> Trade Pundits </i>were banking on Modi as the “only hope of the stock market”, the new data have shown that even a stable third front at<a href="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/images-1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-163 alignright" alt="images (1)" src="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/images-1.jpg" width="244" height="206" /></a> the Center can propel the economy to newer highs.<br/><br/>The dependency of the Indian stock market on the FIIs is not a hidden fact. The unfavourable economic data being released by China and Japan have also resulted in the foreign investors banking on India.<br/><br/>Although brokers are betting big on this pre-election rally of the stock market, yet the market doesn’t seem to be stable. A plunge in the IT stocks led basically by the Infosys, spooked the Dalal Street on Thursday. Moreover, it is being said that any further rise in the value of rupee might be detrimental to the country’s exports on whose back the economy is seen to be reviving.<br/><br/>This instability in the economy does not only come from the Dalal Street but also from the vulnerabilities in Parliament. What is needed is a strong platform being built by the new government which is capable enough to carry the pressure of the internal and external turmoil and also back the national and international sentiments with stability. Now that platform can be NaMo’s ‘<i>56 inch ki chaati</i>’ or RaGa’s ‘<i>deeper democratic set up</i>’ or even the fledgling third front.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-50745625568876186442014-02-14T21:44:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:39.104+05:30No money, no honey<p style="text-align:justify;">A perfect card, a huge teddy, lots of chocolates and a bunch of fresh roses- this was the idea of a perfect Valentine’s date till the people in love started asking for more from their lovers and eventually from the gift shops.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">This is not how the celebration of February 14 started. Its origins stem from fertility festivals of ancient Rome, when young women were not given candy or flowers. They were whipped with strips of animal hide because they believed that this would make them more fertile. A couple of centuries later, Christians celebrated a priest named Valentine, who secretly performed marriage ceremonies for soldiers when the emperor had forbidden it. By the 1400's Valentine's Day was firmly established in England.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Slowly and gradually the tradition changed and people became softer. Roses and chocolates started to substitute the whips. But now lovers almost strike gold on this day.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">For chocolatiers, jewelers, hoteliers and greeting card manufacturers valentine’s day is like Christmas in February. The multi-million industry which is thriving on not only on the pocket of people but also on their minds, has been successful in creating a whole week of expressing love. Exquisite roses on rose day, foreign chocolates on chocolate day, teddy bears on teddy day have made room for expensive jewellery and exotic holidays on the V-day.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Another blot that this beautiful day has seen in the last few decades is that while many feel this is a harmless bit of fun, others find it an abhorrent craze, or worse still, a plot by multinationals to impose Western culture elsewhere and increase their sales. It has been reported that many people celebrate it because they don’t want to be seen as unromantic.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">A study conducted by a Stanford professor has put the estimated expense on this year’s Valentine’s Day at $130 per person. This Valentine’s Day, enthusiasts are expected to spend more than $17.6 billion on romance-related goods, jewelry, cards, flowers and chocolates, a ten-year high. That’s not even the whole picture, when you include all the other things that go along with the “perfect” romantic experience: heart shaped doohickeys, fancy dinners, candle lit romantic massages for two, romantic getaways, puppies and couples counseling.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">But for many it’s just annoying. People dislike how Valentine’s Day represents the commercialisation of relationships, dictating how people can demonstrate love, defining what ‘romance’ should be, and suggesting being loving during the 364 other days of the year isn’t important.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">You love it or hate it but Valentine’s Day is a phenomenon that you can’t ignore it. Clearly, the economics of love is serious business.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-1225888267813423592014-02-04T23:22:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:39.093+05:30Indian stocks await stable politics<p style="text-align:justify;" align="center">In the last one year, Indian Stock Market has been like a topsy-turvy land. A land wherein on the one hand a single statement by the US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke could jolt the Indian economy like never before then on the other hand the dynamism of the newly appointed RBI Governor, Dr. Raghuram Rajan is standing tall like a wall in the way. It is not only economic instability that has rattled the nation but also political precariousness. As India goes to polls in April-May this year for the 16<sup>th</sup> Lok Sabha elections, it is very difficult to determine whether there would be a stable government or not. This political uncertainty is making Indian Stock Market suffer. The general elections are happening at a time when the economic growth is at its all time lows and inflation is at its all time high, therefore it is very important to have a government which is capable of strengthening the confidence of not only the country but also of its investors.<a href="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/download-1.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-141 alignright" alt="download (1)" src="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/download-1.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="161" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">While the <i>Trade-Pandits </i>are banking on the Bhartiye Janta Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as “the Indian stock market's greatest hope” the current political scenario says that it is too early to decide it considering the performance of an year old Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi elections. Modi has been presented by the BJP as the pro business future Prime Minister who comes with a proven business model. Both Rahul Gandhi and Arwind Kejriwal have failed to attract and convince investors. This was well reflected by the assembly elections results of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Chhattisgarh on December 9, 2013 when the markets jumped by 1.5 percent because of BJP leading the way. But one can’t ignore the fact that things don’t come easy and expected in India. Political instabilities have led to economic downturns and economic vulnerabilities have resulted in political crisis in the past. Whatever be the voter mood in the 2014 elections, the Indian market needs a stable government for a strong economy.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-41751605536111941892014-02-04T23:13:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:39.082+05:30The unnatural ‘rights’ and wrongs<p style="text-align:justify;" align="center">For the world the date was 11-12-13 but India was back to 1860s. The forenoon of December 13, 2011 will be remembered as one of the darkest hours of Indian judiciary. Chief Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice Ganpat Singh Singhvi gave one of the most contradictory judgments by ‘setting aside’ Delhi High Court’s verdict of decriminalizing homosexuality.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Justice Singhvi, through his last judgment set the cogwheels rolling to the 19<sup>th</sup> Century which banned homosexuality as “against the law of the nature”. The judgment is being criticized for its logic.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Section 377 is an infringement of Article 14 of the Constitution which deals with the fundamental right to equality, Article 15 which deals with the fundamental right to non-discrimination and Article 21 which covers the fundamental right to life and liberty, including privacy and dignity. The judgment, in just one stroke, has turned millions of people into criminals who engage in consensual sex in the privacy of their homes.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">A lot has been said about this judgment. Like one can’t bind love, or everybody has the right to choose his or her course of life. Innumerous questions have been raised on the equality of the LGBT community. But one of the biggest dangers is to the safety of the LGBT community.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">We aren’t unaware of the cases of rapes, sexual assaults, extortions and other crimes against the community. Now that the risk has multiplied, the future of the community seems to be uncertain. Surprisingly the court is unmoved by the plight of the families whose members have suddenly turned into criminals if they express their love physically.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">The inability to understand the essence of Section 377 is shocking. A closer look shows that the British imposed this because of the then prevailing Victorian beliefs. Sexual intercourse for the British was meant for begetting children and not for mere pleasure.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Thus, only penile vaginal intercourse was considered to be natural and any kind of penile non-vaginal intercourse was considered to be “unnatural” including penile oral and penile anal sex.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">This lack of sensitivity towards a marginalised community puts at risk not only one community but also the value system of the society. As the SC calls a section of society “unnatural” and snatches the Fundamental Rights from them because they are a “minuscule minority” the situation to me seems to be of absolute disdain. And what is more appalling is Supreme Court’s decision to not to re-consider the judgement. For some it is the age of wisdom but this judgment has made it an age of foolishness.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-84783326330587245662014-01-19T22:58:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:39.070+05:30Paranthawali Gali: A century old flavour<p align="center"></p><br/>For some it’s dark and dirty, for others it’s lively and exciting, for some it is poor, for others it is the coffer of our cultural heritage, for some it is stingy and shabby but for others it is a mini India. Rich in food, art and handlooms, Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi is a home to some of oldest jewels of our history like the magnificent Red Fort and the Jama Masjid. But a little away from the grandeur and the limelight is a small restaurant, Shri Kanniyalal Durga Prashad Dixit Paranthe Waale, which has been there for around 140 years and is an important ingredient of the famous Paranthe waali Gali.<br/><br/>The fragrance of freshly fried paranthas adore the whole place and it is so irresistible that you can’t escape it however you try. Founded in 1875 by Late Kanniyalal Durga Prasad Dixit, the small restaurant serves around 30 varieties of vegetarian parathas including the parathas with exotic fillings like <i>kaju, badam, rabri, khoya etc.</i><br/><br/>“We have been serving people the real Indian Paranthas for more than a century now. We are the fifth generation in the same business,” says the proud owner while he fries a mouth watering Nimbu parantha. “There are more than 1500 to 2000 visitors in a day in the Gali. Business is great but more than that we love the fact that we have been able to keep the dream of our forefathers alive and it is flourishing with each passing day,” he added.<br/><br/>From the famous personalities like Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru and Akshay Kumar to a common man, the restaurant has seen them all and inherits the real taste of the rich Indian cuisine. The parantha is usually served without onions and garlic with sweet tamarind chutney, mint chutney, mixed vegetable pickle, paneer and potato curry, potato and fenugreek curry, and a mash of sweet pumpkin. A chilled sweet lassi adds to the taste.<br/><br/>“I come here very often with my friends and we enjoy the real taste of Indian cuisine,” said Deepankar Pathak, a software engineer and regular customer of the shop. “While I love gobhi parantha, my girl friend is a fan of nimbu paranthas. It is a good change from the mainstream junk food,” he added.<br/><br/>The culinary journey of the Parantha waali Gali has traversed a long journey. It has moved beyond the small lanes and elegant Havelis of Chandni Chowk to some of the biggest malls. Not only this, the gali is internationally acclaimed. The well known Mela restaurant in UK is imitates the ambience of the Paranthe waali Gali.<br/><br/>It might look old fashioned for a large chunk of the Pizza generation but for a larger chunk this is the real taste of India. What is more surprising is that in a small lane lies the flavours of a culture which is more than a century old.<br/><p align="center"></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-84248895028623312872014-01-19T22:37:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:39.060+05:30Konark Festival: A blend of art and beauty<p style="text-align:left;" align="center">Few things are too perfect to be called reality and one can experience this at Konark festival. The lights were as bright as they could be, the decorations were perfect and the feeling was as welcoming as ever. Just follow the rhythm along the scintillating Chandrabhaga beach and you will feel the grandeur of the Sun Temple and it is there that the miraculous parade of the Indian classical dances begins at the Annual Konark Festival.</p><br/>The Konark festival is held every year from December 1 to December 5. This festival marks the onset of the various dance and music festivals<a href="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/dsc04127.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-168 alignright" alt="DSC04127" src="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/dsc04127.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="225" /></a> being held in Odisha from December to March.<br/><br/>This year the five day festival seemed, to many, as lesser scintillating than the previous years’. As reported by Odisha Tourism, an expenditure of around Rs 80 lakh has been done on the decoration.<br/><br/>The perfect blend of art and beauty, Konark festival, began with the Odissi dance performance by Purnashree Raut and Group from Raipur, Chattisgarh which was followed by Bharatnatyam by Anitha Guha and Group of Bharathanjali Trust, Chennai. On the second day, Lasya Akademi’s Sadanam Balakrishnan and Group from Kerala performed Kathakali and Mohiniyattam which was followed by Rudrakshya Foundation’s Odissi dance performance by Guru Bichitrananda Swain and Group from Bhubaneswar. The following days were marked by other famous dance forms like Manipuri by Singhjit Singh and Group and Odissi by Aloka Kanungo and Group on the third day, Kuchipudi by Aekhya Punjala and Group and Odissi by Padmashree Ileana Citaristi and Group on the fourth day and Kathak by Rani Karnaa and Group and Odissi by GKCM Odissi Research Centre on the final day.<br/><br/>The dances ranging from themes like depiction of Ramayana to Krishna’s Raasleela, from Shiva’s anger to Parvati’s calmness, from lyrical prayers to imbibing the male stylization into various dance form.<br/><br/>The international sand art festival has also witnessed entries from across the world.<br/><br/>This festival is one of the greatest dance festivals held in the State. It attracts large number of tourists from across the world.<br/><br/>The festival truly binds India together in rhythmic ties. The winter breeze from the sea, the famous Sun temple in the backdrop and the magic of various dance forms create an atmosphere filled with rhythmic beats which not only provides food for eyes and ears but also nurtures the soul.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-33949164277999636342014-01-17T13:30:00.000+05:302014-06-11T15:00:26.538+05:30I await more ‘realistic’ cinema: Nandita Das<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV66OVBG_lY48Y-pO3ccWdvLf_PuBIdUrIt5wUMaJiQFB5udtP9vcJ3yLpDPAArLOokYP4AF0kE8ePPX5LvGUJfH6TzwXyeWaiftPiEW76RJT0oM9JPiScABLSfjVAzfAW09rrfPKSaQ60/s1600/03IN_NANDITA_DAS_113485e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV66OVBG_lY48Y-pO3ccWdvLf_PuBIdUrIt5wUMaJiQFB5udtP9vcJ3yLpDPAArLOokYP4AF0kE8ePPX5LvGUJfH6TzwXyeWaiftPiEW76RJT0oM9JPiScABLSfjVAzfAW09rrfPKSaQ60/s1600/03IN_NANDITA_DAS_113485e.jpg" height="200" width="178" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%; text-align: left;">A versatile actress, a director par excellence and an active social
worker, Nandita Das was born on December 7, 1969. She has been a
known face in the Indian Film industry and abroad primarily for her
performances and for the issues she takes up in her movies like </span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">Fire</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">(1996),</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">Earth</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">(1998),</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">Bawandar</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">(2000),</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">KannathilMuthamittal</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">(2002),</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">Azhagi</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">and</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i><span style="background: #ffffff;">Before
The Rains</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">(2007).</span></span></span></span></div>
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In an interview with Ritika <i>Pradhan, </i>she talks about art and
movies. Here are the excerpts of the interview.</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Your movies have largely been non-commercial in nature. In an era
of ‘</b><i><b>paisa wasool cinema’ </b></i><b>how do you foresee
the non-commercial films?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
In the present scenario, where issues like racism, violence against
women, corruption, male chauvinism are corroding the society, it
becomes our responsibility to give voice to those who are mute and
subjugated. It is the responsibility of not only the films but of
people like you and me and everyone. So far the future of these kinds
of films is concerned I think we should continue to make more such
films. I am not denying the fact that <i>masaala movies</i> are also
important to entertain. What non-commercial movies need to learn is
to draw audience towards theaters so that we can have a more
realistic and serious cinema.</div>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
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</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>When you say non-commercial movie should learn to attract
audience then what are the measures that you suggest?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
One of the greatest loopholes of non-commercial cinema is that it
lacks proper marketing. The idea of such cinema must be to generate
awareness amongst the masses and not classes. I would like to see a
day when non-commercial cinema starts selling and we aren’t afraid
to produce more such cinema.
</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Your directorial debut ‘</b><i><b>Firaaq</b></i><b>’ is a
nationally acclaimed movie but why couldn’t it release the way it
should have?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
‘<i>Firaaq</i>’ had a controversial political agenda attached to
it as a result the movie couldn’t get the kind of response it
should have. I knew this and some of my friends in the industry had
even warned me about the wrong timing of the movie release but I
thought there couldn’t be a better time than the elections. But
when colleges and institutions contact us for special screening of
the film, I feel that the purpose is achieved.</div>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
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</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Your father, Jatin Das is a renowned artist. Do you think your
sense of aesthetics and art is in your genes?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
Yes of course! Whatever I am today is because of my <i>baba</i>. The
independence with which he has brought me up and the freedom of
thought that he emanates has always motivated me. He is a great man
and has always done whatever he felt was right and I do the same. He
is a role model. Look at this film festival where he is supporting
tribal culture and art through short films and documentaries. He
could have easily chosen some other theme but he didn’t.</div>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
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</div>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>What do you think is the biggest challenge to art?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
It is the disconnect between people and art that is the reason why we
have to have festivals like these. Art, otherwise is so fulfilling
that it doesn’t need to be celebrated. It is feeling, a sense that
you can celebrate anytime, any moment. Our education system is
creating a generation who can’t appreciate the simplicity and
purity of our culture because they don’t know about it. We all are
responsible for creating such a generation. I crave for Odia food but
my children love to have pizzas and burger. It is not their failure
but my failure. Art and culture need to be lived with, they can’t
just happen to you in a day or two.</div>
<div align="center" class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-40436711837477575432013-11-19T00:38:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:39.049+05:30<blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Sachin’s retirement is like Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination”</p><br/></blockquote><br/>A nation wept with the maestro as he bid farewell to ‘a life between those 22 yards for 24 years’ on November 17 at home-ground Wankhede. Never before had the world witnessed such a moment as it was when the Little Master, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar bent down in supplication and touched the pitch in gratitude.<br/><br/>Over the years, every Indian has lived cricket in all its hues with Sachin. Cricket and Tendulkar have been so synonymous that many have deified him. If cricket could become a religion in India for many, it was because Sachin was the God.<br/><br/>In a stellar career of 24 years, Sachin has almost every cricketing record in his name. Not only the fans but cricketers and sportsmen from across the world shed tears with him as he said the final adieu to the game he loved more than life.<br/><br/>For a man who has made his fans feel excited and disappointed all at once, a perfect goodbye was deserved.<br/><br/>The Indian Government couldn’t do anything better than conferring the highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, to the Little Master.<br/><br/>Sachin created an era in India’s history of cricket. “Sachin, Sachin will reverberate in my ears till I stop breathing” he said and with these words the era melted into an exasperation and despair never felt before.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-22533254298532861932013-11-09T22:56:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:39.032+05:30India's food 'insecurity'As the whole country sheds tears over onions, people in Odisha have some more reasons which are bringing tears to their pockets. It is an unusual potato and salt crisis which has strangled Odisha.<br/><br/><b>The potato politics</b><br/><br/>After having suffered sky-rocketing onion prices, a deadly cyclone and floods, people in Odisha can now be seen lined up in long, serpentine queues in front of the Government run Udyan Presh and Maitree outlets in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. These outlets are selling potatoes at Rs22 a kg which are otherwise being sold at Rs 80 a kg, if at all it is available.<br/><br/><b>The ‘pinch’ of salt</b><br/><br/>Before the Government could manage the acute scarcity of potatoes, rumours spread in a large section of the<b> </b>state that salt too is likely to go scarce for the next few months. The rumours resulted in unscrupulous traders encashing the situation. The prices of salt thus increased from Rs 25 to Rs 60 a kg.<br/><br/><b>Miles to go…</b><br/><br/>The situation looks even more appalling when you look at the Government’s inability to curb the crisis. Lack of control over rumour mongers and Government’s mismanagement has given rise to this situation but more than this it is the administration’s indifference.<br/><br/>It’s not the time to pay blame games. While the consumers are pointing fingers at the administration, the government is accusing the consumers of undue panic causing the crisis<br/><br/>Whoever is responsible for the crisis what is important is to realise that essentials like potatoes, onions and salt are politically sensitive commodities and have led to major political fallouts in the past.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-31831166419042743002013-10-09T11:45:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:39.020+05:30God’s own religion<p style="text-align:justify;" align="center">Last week my visit to <a title="Stories from the sea" href="http://bruisedviews.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/stories-from-the-sea/">Jagannath Puri</a> made me realize that the whole hullabaloo around Modi being a secular or not is a waste of time because in a ‘secular’ and religiously tolerant country like India, even God has a religion and that religion is Hinduism.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Of course, in a Hindu dominated state God has to go with the majority, may be when we decided Lord Jagannath’s<a href="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/orissa-jaggu.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-103 alignright" alt="orissa-jagannath" src="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/orissa-jaggu.jpg?w=204" width="204" height="300" /></a> religion we didn’t know about the privileges enjoyed by a minority. After all, Jagannath literally means ‘Jagat ke Nath’ or the Lord of the universe. And how can a secular state allow a Non-Hindu to rule.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">A temple, or any other holy place for that matter, acts like a bridge between man and God and when the very same bridge is used to create gap, people like me begin to doubt my faith.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">I was amazed by the glory and the magic of Jagannath on His devotees. The undying devotion and spiritual fervor for the divinity can be felt the moment you step inside Odisha. The omnipresence of the astounding belief fuelled my desire to visit the temple. One of my friends from Odisha once said that the moment he enters the temple there are tears in his eyes. Nobody can describe Jagannath such is his aura. And I think he was true because despite the temple’s mismanagement thousands of devotees flocked the temple for a glimpse of the Almighty.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">The magnificence of the Lord can be understood by the grandeur of His residence. Built on an area of about 4,00,000 square feet, the triad deities, Jagannath, Subhadra and Balbhadra, reside in the Garba Griha (Sanctum sanctorum) section of the temple. The sanctity of the place can’t be challenged but the lack of management and security seems to be a major issue.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">With no proper frisking, one can easily carry cell-phones and other stuff inside the temple. This is a major issue for a place visited by thousands of people daily.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/lord_jagannath_photo_-_triad-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-104 alignleft" alt="lord_jagannath_photo_-_triad (1)" src="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/lord_jagannath_photo_-_triad-1.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="211" /></a>But more than the security and the management what disturbed me was an incident that happened with a friend of mine. None of the guards checked our bags properly because we looked Hindus but a friend was asked to prove his religion because he was bald and had a beard which is a typical Muslim get-up.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">It was difficult for me to understand why were the non- hindus not allowed in the temple. I am a Brahmin by caste and I am supposed to visit temples but I prefer Bangla Saheb Gurudwara over any other religious place. It is all about faith and for a place like <a title="Leherein" href="http://bruisedviews.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/leherein/" target="_blank">Puri</a> which is one of the holiest cities in the country, discrimination on the basis of religion is not justified.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Since the ancient times, the servitors of Lord Jagannath have restricted devotees inside the temple. From Kabir Das ji to Guru Nanak Dev ji to Indira Gandhi to the Italian Odissi dancer Ileana Citarasti, the temple has posed restrictions on the entry on the basis of religion and has landed itself in more number of controversies than any other deity in the country. Mahatma Gandhi had even protested against the rampant caste discrimination practiced by the temple authorities.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">The debates and protests have resulted in a lot of changes in the temple rituals like the Dalits are now allowed inside the temple but there are miles to go before we close this debate on restricting entry to religious places on the basis of religion. Jagannath is the lord of the universe. He is an assimilation of all the castes and religions and thus we all must get a fair chance to assimilate in Him irrespective of our castes and religion. It was only after visiting the sacrosanct that I realized that there is more Jagannath outside the temple than it is inside. Inside those four walls of the majestic temple He is only getting divided and cashed by his servitors but His real glory lies beyond those four walls where even the mention of His name commands respect and nothing auspicious can happen without His blessings.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-78621049922770139292013-10-07T11:10:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:39.000+05:30Leherein<blockquote>Kuch to khaas hai in lehro me<br/><br/>Jo mujhse yun takrati hai,<br/><br/>Shor me khamoshi jaisi,<br/><br/>Subah ki pheli angadayi jaisi,<br/><br/>Jaise ho koi tamanna adhuri si,<br/><br/>Na jaane kisko chuna chahti hai.<br/><br/>Koi baat chupaye hai shayad apne seene mein,<br/><br/>Kuch to kehna chahti hai,<br/><br/>Kayi ankahi kahaniya dabi hai andar,<br/><br/>Awaaz lagakr mujhko bulati hai,<br/><br/>Samajh ni paati me inki jubaan,<br/><br/>To shayad ruth jaati hai,<br/><br/>Ufaan ki tarah aati hai,<br/><br/>Or maati k mehel ki tarah mujhko baha le jaati hai.<br/><br/>Rokna ni chahti me bhi khudko<br/><br/>Bas saath chalti jaati hu,<br/><br/>Thoda sa laut aati hu<br/><br/>Or thoda sa beh jaati hu.</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-76713752933372859882013-10-04T15:54:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:38.983+05:30Stories from the sea<p style="text-align:justify;" align="center">She is magnificent but elegant, she is violent yet tranquil, she is attractive but mysterious, she is calm but holds a lot of might in its bosom, she is the grandeur of the sea that hides and unfolds the most complex and interesting human emotions and sentiments and I call her 'she' because like a woman she is desirable, beautiful and nobody can ever understand her.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">The beach in Puri is no exception. Located on the banks on Bay of Bengal, it is a tourist attraction as well as a sacred place for Hindu devotees. The beach is a site of various art works, camel rides, Puri Beach Annual Festival and the world famous sand art by Sudarshan Patnaik.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">The waves have been touching the coastline since time and thus have witnessed Puri grow from a religious place to a commercialized city. While there are many who came there to have a share of the sanctity of the place, there are some who visit it to enjoy the tranquility.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Kanta Javeri, a 78 year old lady who had come to Puri from Ahemdabad just to see Lord Jagannath and take a holy dip<a href="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/20130928_1550471.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-91 alignright" alt="20130928_155047[1]" src="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/20130928_1550471.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="225" /></a> in the ‘Panch Tirhta’ (Five Holy places). As her son Suresh Javeri said, “My mother wanted to visit Jagannath once before she dies. She had not been keeping well and insisted that she wanted to visit the temple and take a holy dip in the sea.” Although she could not take the dip owing to the security issues she did wash her hands and touched the holy waters. “I was born in Puri but after my father shifted to Gujarat and I got married. I could never come back. Although I always wanted to and missed this place,” said Kanta.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">The devotion of Kanta was visible in the way she looked at the sea and touched the waves every time they came on the shore. She could not stop thanking Lord Jagannath for calling her to his land.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Hindu devotees say that there are ‘Pancha Tirtha’ in Puri and among which the sea is the most sacred. The other four are Indradyumma Tank, Markendya Tank, Swetaganga Tank and Rohini Kunda.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Kanta is not the only one. The beauty of the sea and the sky has attracted people from all walks of life and around the world. A young couple from Delhi, Dinesh Kapoor and Smita Kapoor had come to the Puri beach to celebrate their first wedding Anniversary. When asked why Puri, Dinesh laughed and said, “My wife is very religious and wanted to visit a holy place and I wanted to go to Goa for I have a fascination for the sea. We had an intense discussion and then I thought Puri is the only place which can serve both the purposes.” He added that he loved the place and its tranquility especially the radiant sky at the dawn and the dusk.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Although the footprints, the names and the sand castles have been washed off from the beach yet it seems that a lot can be read on the golden coast. The stories and the sentiments are all the more the same, only the names change. The mysterious sea calls us towards it and our greed to unravel the secret draws us towards it but nobody knows what really defines this magnificent creation of God. Is it really the sanctity of the waters or the beauty that the place is gifted with?</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Being my first visit to a abeach, here are a few lines that I wrote</p><br/><br/><blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Kuch to khaas hai in lehro me</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Jo mujhse yun takrati hai,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Shor me khamoshi jaisi,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Subah ki pheli angadayi jaisi,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Jaise ho koi tamanna adhuri si,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Na jaane kisko chuna chahti hai.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Koi baat chupaye hai shayad apne seene mein,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Kuch to kehna chahti hai,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Kayi ankahi kahaniya dabi hai andar,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Awaaz lagakr mujhko bulati hai,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Samajh ni paati me inki jubaan,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">To shayad ruth jaati hai,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Ufaan ki tarah aati hai,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Or maati k mehel ki tarah mujhko baha le jaati hai.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Rokna ni chahti me bhi khudko</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Bas saath chalti jaati hu,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Thoda sa laut aati hu</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Or thoda sa beh jaati hu.</p><br/></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-90812200502770372762013-09-14T15:47:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:38.933+05:30Finally hanged or 'Hanging'...<p style="text-align:justify;">We do not take her name because we don't know. We call her 'daughter of India', <a title="Is it lust or male chauvinism" href="http://bruisedviews.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/is-it-lust-or-male-chauvinism/" target="_blank">'Nirbhaya'</a>, 'Damini' etc.. We don't take her name because of legal reason and also because we think we know a lot about her, she wanted to be a physiotherapist, her last movie was Life of Pie which proved fatal and she was raped brutally and we think we know her in and out.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">The thought of the broken bones, damaged intestines and still the desire to live are somethings that make all of us feel that she is very dear to us. We have started seeing our sisters, daughters, friends in her. Every Indian has established a relationship with her.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Incidentally, it was so very natural for all of us to celebrate when the rapists and murders have been sentenced to death. Some people say that justice has been served others say that this will make her soul rest in peace. But I wonder will it really?</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">With due respect to the court's verdict and the girl's sentiments, I don't support the judgement. Death sentence for me is like 'tit-for-tat'. You killed her so I kill you. Your killing wasn't justified but mine is. I think a person's actions are dependent on the circumstances and his psyche at that point of time. Yes, this certainly doesn't justify their actions but it intensifies them.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">What is required is understanding a criminal's frame of mind. A punishment should always<a href="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/death-penalty-226x300.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-61 alignright" alt="Death-Penalty" src="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/death-penalty-226x300.jpg" width="226" height="300" /></a> try to reform and a death penalty is never the end to any form of crime because a death penalty decides a person's future course of life and not his future course of thoughts. He might remain as evil as he was earlier, in some cases he might be even worse. Aren't we doing the same crime? Aren't we becoming equally sadistic in our actions?</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">A death penalty gives you a way to forget. You commit a crime, you get death and you forget or a crime is committed against you, you protest against it, the court sentences the criminal to death, you celebrate and you forget. India, is a country where we have this ingenious ability to look away and a death penalty is a perfect way to look away from any sort of crime. But as a society the onus to purify the thoughts lies on us. The onus to make them feel that their actions were severely wrong and that this crime can't be looked away lies on us.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Although no country can stop rapes or sexual assaults against women, but they try to impart minimum freedom to their women. India is one such nation where on the one hand people talk about degrading status of the women and on the other hand notable lawyers (read A.P. Singh) say that he would burn his daughter if she was found roaming around with her boyfriend. I think the battle, despite the death penalty, has been lost.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">More than a death sentence, Nirbhaya would have wanted a safer country for women. She would have wanted no silence till the time there are silent atrocities against women. She would have wanted action and reaction but no 'looking away' in the disguise of death penalty.</p><br/><br/><blockquote><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Justice can never be done when the criminal is<em> hanged</em> but the crime remains <em>hanging</em>.</p><br/></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-31917402215429623252013-08-25T13:39:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:38.913+05:30Is it lust or male chauvinism<p style="text-align:justify;">Well a lot had been said about the infamously famous Nirbhaya case and I know a lot will be said about the recent rape of a photojournalist. Oops sorry I should not use the word rape because our law no more recognises, it is sexual assault now. Anyways, one of the implications of this incident on me has been that I have started to reconsider the idea of taking up this profession. Not because I have freaked out but because it makes me wonder why am I entering into this profession. One of the reasons why I took to this profession was the agitation i felt inside me after the Dec 16 case but I think with this incident things have started to pacify inside me because I no more trust my faith on the power of being a journalist.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Last night I was wondering what has changed in the society? The values or the ethics or is<span style="text-align:justify;line-height:1.5;"> it really something as trivial (read provocative) as a short skirt or increased consumption of noddles and mobile phones. The thought brought me to another thought that the five year old must not have had enough noodles or worn provocative skirts or addicted herself to her cell phone! Then what is it? I believe a five year old can't invite two boys to brutally rape her and leave the objects of their victory (which in the eyes of some of our countrymen should have been given by the kid to invite the 'innocent' accused) inside her body. Was it not a sheer exposure of power and male chauvinism.</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">But what has led to it. I think one of the main reasons is the way we project this crime.</p><br/><img class="size-full wp-image-44 alignright" alt="images (1)" src="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/images-1.jpg" width="297" height="170" /><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Calling it a gender issue makes it only a women's issue. In our society, especially in Asia, gender is thought to be synonymous with 'women' like race is thought to be synonymous to blacks in the United States. So when we say it is a gender violence, the male community tend to sidetrack themselves thinking that it is a women's issue and not pertaining to them when in reality sexual violence is not only against women but also against men. And so far violence against women is concerned, it is not their issue but more of men's issue. It is there psychological issue which needs attention and not a woman's issue. Another problem is calling the 'raped' a victim. This demotivates and discourages. A woman who has been raped lives throughout her life as a victim. She is a survivor, a fighter, a brave heart but certainly not a victim. Unfortunately, we never call the rapist a rapist but we call the survivor a victim.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">We talk about gender sensitisation. Again the male community doesn't pay attention to the issue because of the word gender. Moreover, we do not need sensitisation. Your and my sensitivity won't help, what we need is 'leadership'. Leadership to change the attitude and ideology, leadership to stop making the victim the subject of our conversation and start talking about the culprit, leadership to think and act, leadership to see women as women and not mere objects of lust.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-71432665265238382692013-08-24T01:57:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:38.875+05:30Caught by a poet & bitten by a shutterbug ;)<blockquote>Kuch baat hai is jagah me<br/>Apna sa lagta h yha<br/>Kuch din hue h yha<a style="text-align:start;" href="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/20130813_080809.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-13 alignright" alt="20130813_080809" src="http://bruisedviews.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/20130813_080809.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="225" /></a><br/>Par hamesha sa lagta hai yha..<br/>Kabhi baadal kabhi in sitaaro me kho jaane ka mann krta hai.<br/>Jab bhi dekhti hu ye neeli chadar sa neela asmaan<br/>Thoda sa chup jaane ka mann krta hai,<br/>In ghane pedo k daaliyo me jhul jaane ka mann krta hai.<br/>Kuch baat hai is jagah me<br/>Kabhi kabhi thoda say hi rhe jaane ka mann krta hai.<br/>Ek ajeeb si khamoshi hai yha<br/>Bas sunte jaane ka mann krta h<br/>Ek khushbu h yha k hawa me,<br/>Kuch kuch meri jaisi lagti h wo<br/>Ek ada hai yha k mausam me<br/>Bada itraata hai wo<br/>Kuch baat hai is jagah me<br/>Chalte jaane ka mann krta h,<br/>Kuch baat hai is jagah me<br/>Thoda sa iska ho jaane ka mann krta h</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953586233105283284.post-62290786969835175912013-08-20T23:37:00.001+05:302014-03-15T01:20:38.856+05:30To the government...<p style="text-align:justify;">Dear government,<br/>I may not be known to you, but we are related actually we are intricately related. We are tied in a bond. When I chose you, the bond was supposed to be that of trust and loyalty but with deep regret I am forced to say that I gave birth to an illegitimate child.You needed me for your existence, you also needed me for your survival but when it came to fulfilling my hopes and aspirations, in a brutal showcase of your indifferent nature, you have just shunned me, like today's generation does to their unwanted parents.<br/>But, I am neither old nor helpless, I am just tolerant. Tolerant towards your so called illustrious, visionary and intellectual officials and politicians, tolerant when you made a thousand promises to me guaranteeing me a secured and prosperous life which I knew were mere illusions, tolerant when you highjacked my hard earned resources, tolerant when disasters like Kalmadi and A. Raja marred my innocence and serenity.<br/>But not anymore! You mistook my tolerance as my habit. I think it is high time for me to raise a voice so loud that it would fall on your deaf ears. And this time you are going to hear my voice because this time I am not one or two or a few hundreds rather we are all together as one.<br/>We are all fed up of hiding our mistakes of breaking the traffic rules by a Rs 100 note, paying a few 1000 bucks extra for a passport hurts us, a few lakhs for an admission to an institute is no more gonna be a method, we won't pay a penny extra to the 'babu' to clear my pension bill, we won't pay anything for a loan sanction, and we won't let anybody exploit us in the name of convenience and ease.<br/>I am not a supporter of any political party. Neither am I against the congress nor am I any admirer or follower of Mr. Anna Hazare. I am just against corruption. I do not support Mr. Anna Hazare but I support my rights, I am not with Anna Hazare rather I am one. Its not that I've not raise a voice before, Yes I have, but when I reached you for help I was stabbed, I was betrayed and subsequently I was subjugated, and when I tried to raise a voice against the betrayal I was again betrayed and hence again subjugated. But this time I would neither request nor can you suppress me because this time I am not an individual but a phenomenon. This time I am a REVOLUTION, that is meant to shake your very roots.<br/>You have forced me to show you this face of mine. What can I do when my leader, my representative Dr. Manmohan Singh says "I am helpless because of the coalition pressures." My sentiments bleed not when you impose Section 144 but when the punishments for violating it differ between me and the honourable Mr. Rahul Gandhi. He is dropped home with due respect and I am sent to tihar jail. Well, for that I am thankful to you because I could meet the big shots like Mr. Kalmadi and Mr. A Raja, who are a few of those respected people who instigated me to turn into a revolution from an individual.<br/>Your non approval to the jan lokpal bill is no more a shock to me. P.Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, Jairam Ramesh, Ambika Soni, Pranab Mukherjee are no doubt intellectual visionaries but they have failed to take any right step forward. So I have decided to share their workload. I won't stop this time. I am bigger and better and more powerful and most of all I am one. If you suppress anyone of us, you give birth to a thousand more, like you tried to suppress one Anna and now there are thousands of Annas on the roads. Beware, suppressing righteous demands might instigate more fire and a million will not take time to become a billion.</p><br/><p style="text-align:justify;">Yours 'truely'<br/>Common man</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0